Author's Note:

Hello all. Just wanted to take a minute and say a much deserved thank you to everybody that has supported my fics. Your positive response towards them is the driving force behind them.

Also, I'd like to take a moment and answer some of the queries that have been presented in the reviews, mainly the ones concerning the order of the events. The purpose of writing a story based on the Whedonverse, to me, is to honor the characters and their creator. I don't see the purpose of writing a mystery in which the events all take place in order. A rich and intriguing mystery is written by exposing enough truths at just the right moments and in just the right quantities. I've taken great pride in writing the flashback scenes as detailed as possible so there's no confusion in which point in time did they happen. Of course, I can see how that may have been a bit confusing and misleading in the beginning, but as the story progressed it became more and more obvious the reasons why I was doing it.

I have been planning 'Wolves' for months before I actually started writing it. Everything here has been completely deliberate and done with the intention of telling a good story. I trust I have done that to the best of my abilities.

As far as where the story is going, well, this is the penultimate chapter (although I'm still considering drawing it out for two more chapters instead of just the one). Will there be a follow-up to it? Of course there will. The characters will go through major changes through these next chapters and by the end something will happen that I asure will have everybody in fits, but very keen on finding out what, why and how it happened. So be warned... these next chapters are going to be bloody, powerful and just downright brutal... and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks again to those that have supported me. And thank you to those that read this story.

Now without further ado, roll on the following chapter:

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Chapter XX: Close encounters.

Her knuckles crack under the pressure she applies. She looks at him and her body trembles. He smiles shyly, trying hard to hide his tears. He sniffs softly and chuckles quietly. Illyria's eyes burn with rage. He looks around the room and then back at her.

Wes: "I guess you came to gloat, huh?"

Illyria doesn't respond.

Wes: (sniffs) "How much did you hear?"

Illyria doesn't respond.

Wes: (baffled) "Silent treatment?"

He rapidly shakes his head then looks at her directly into her eyes and walks over to the couch. Her body remains motionless, but her gaze follows him like a shadow. He sits down and sighs as he lies back on it. He scratches his knee and then his right sideburn.

Wes: "I did what I thought was right."

Illyria turns her head towards him.

Wes: (cont.) "Should've known it wasn't going to work. Couldn't even bring her back right."

He looks at Illyria beside him and goose bumps run through his spine as he does.

Wes: (looks back at Fred) "I apologize for taking advantage you like that." (pauses) "Do with that what you will."

Illyria looks back at Fred. She's on the farthest corner of the padded room. She's crouched and scratching her head against the wall.

Illyria: (walks towards the window) "What is wrong with her?"

Wes: "Her body was cloned and... do you understand that term? Cloned?"

Illyria: (looks back at Wes) "I... don't know... everything feels as if it's shrouded in fog."

Wes: "Think hard."

Illyria: (after a pause, looks back at Fred) "To produce an offspring asexually from an individual by utilizing its genetic information."

Wes: (smiles) "That's one way of putting it."

Illyria looks back at him seriously.

Wes: "Yes, well, ahem... since her body was cloned it was put in cryogenic stasis. It was made of Fred's blood so that is her... but everything that was her before... it was inside of you. You've felt it... you've known for a long time, but you've been too ashamed to come forth about it."

Illyria looks back at Fred.

Wes: (cont.) "I did extensive research on this. This was the first time something like this had ever happened. Your mind contained every memory that made Fred who she was, but most importantly... your body contained her soul... fractured and scattered throughout your being. We needed to get it out. All of it."

Illyria: (staring blankly at Fred) "Then why do I--?"

Wes: "Because everything that was hers was yours. When you took over her... she took over you. That's why you're in love with me."

Illyria looks at him suddenly over her shoulder.

Wes: "There was no way you could've hidden it for much longer, Illyria. I've known for a long time."

She turns completely towards him. He remains silent for a moment then breathes deeply as he stares at the window.

Wes: (shrugs) "Everything was supposed to work. We planned every detail... every scenario." (pauses) "It was flawed... I see that now."

She observes him with interest, slowly calming herself. His eyes well up and he stabs his knees with his fingernails.

Wes: (sniffs) "The strain caused by the implantation of her memories and her soul on her brain was too great. She broke down..." (scoffs) "...literally."

Illyria turns around and looks at Fred. She's standing in front of the window, staring at it blankly. Illyria moves towards it and puts her leather covered fingers softly against the glass. Fred slowly arches her head backwards and hangs her head, swinging it from side to side. She lifts her arms and scratches the air, as if she were grasping for something dear. Suddenly she pouts and puts her arms around herself, kneeling in front of the window and sobbing softly. Illyria turns back towards Wesley.

Wes: (sharply, but softly) "She was an extraordinary woman." (smiles, biting his lower lip)

Illyria: (looks back at her over her shoulder) "Yes... she was."

She walks past Wesley without batting him an eye. She stops at the door.

Illyria: "I will allow you grieve for her for the moment." (turns around; Wes is still staring at Fred) "You aided me when I first arrived in this world... regardless of what had come to pass beforehand. For that... I'm grateful."

She turns towards the door again.

Illyria: (cont.) "But you have crossed me in ways no other creature has before, human." (pauses) "You may be right about the stench of human emotion that shrouds me, but I swear by my blood this matter is not at an end."

She walks out and leaves him alone in his own personal Hell. In her mind it probably suits him nicely...

The following afternoon Lindsey's coming down on his elevator to his office. The doors open and as he walks out he sees Hamilton standing in front of the window.

Lindsey: "What're you doing here, Marcus?"

Hamilton: "It's almost six o'clock."

Lindsey: "So?"

Hamilton: "Oh, it's nothing." (turns around) "However... I'm wondering why is it that we're cuddling with the Watchers' enforcers?"

Lindsey: (walks towards his desk) "Just fulfilling the duties in my contract."

Hamilton: "Oh, yes... that fuzzy part that went around serving Wesley, if I'm not mistaken." (smiles) "I love the way you handled that, by the way."

Lindsey: "Yeah... ain't it a hoot?"

Hamilton: (chuckles) "Yes, I suppose it is."

Lindsey: "Is that everything?"

Hamilton: (breathes deeply) "Yes... that is all."

Lindsey: "Well, if you don't mind, I'm kinda busy here. Your ass out that door is greatly appreciated."

Hamilton: "I'm quite sure it is, Mr. McDonald."

He walks towards the door.

Lindsey: (perusing through the pile of files) "See you tomorrow, Marcus."

Hamilton walks towards the door. As he opens it he finds himself face to face with Wesley. The stare at each other for mere seconds when Hamilton smiles and walks pass him with touching him. Wes looks at him from over his shoulder and walks inside the office. Lindsey stops and looks at him nervously.

Wesley closes the door and walks over to the chairs in front of Lindsey's desk. He sits down and rubs his eyes with both hands. Lindsey drops the file he was holding on his desk and calmly sits down on his chair. He grabs a pen from his desktop organizer casually and taps it on the desk as he stares at Wesley.

Wes: "What happened?"

Lindsey: "Depends on what you want to know."

Wes: "Why did it go wrong?"

Lindsey: (pauses) "I don't know."

He looks at Wes and taps the desk with his pen. He bites his lower lip and opens a case file. As he reads it, Wes looks outside.

Wes: "What time is it?"

Lindsey: "I'm sorry?"

Wes taps his wrist.

Lindsey: "Oh, it's, uh..." (looks at his wrist watch) "...it's almost six." (pauses for a second) "Why do you ask?"

Wes: "Just curious."

They remain quiet for a couple of seconds. Lindsey observes Wesley intently as he stares outside. He shakes his head slightly and looks back to his file, as Wesley immerses himself into the crystal mountains outside.

As the night slowly creeps in, Spike enters the rooftop of Wolfram & Hart. He walks around for a bit and then notices Illyria crouched on the ledge at the farthest corner from the roof's entrance. He smiles casually and calmly approaches her.

Spike: "Hey, Blue."

Illyria looks at him from over her shoulder. She remains unpleasantly quiet.

Spike: (stands beside her) "Heard you talked to Wes."

Illyria: (quietly) "Yes."

Spike: (sighs) "How're you feeling?"

Illyria: "I..." (pauses) "Angry."

Spike looks at her intently, yet compassionately.

Illyria: "My whole life I have never experienced such emotions. I feel like I have been burned on a pyre and left for the crows to peck at my eyes by those whom I regard. I feel inclined to reduce his existence to ashes." (pauses) "Yet I can't seem to force my arm to exact his comeuppance... I am not pleased by this. It burns me from inside..." (softly) "...and I have no control over it."

Spike: (breathes deeply) "I can bring you some Maalox if you want."

Illyria: "That is not required."

Spike: (smiles sincerely and chuckles softly) "That was a joke."

Illyria looks at him dubiously.

Spike: (cont.) "Look, so you fell for the one person you can't have. Big deal." (sits beside her) "Who here hasn't already anyhow?"

He smiles at her. She looks intently at him and slowly lowers her head. She looks at the buildings in front of her as her body processes the information that was just given to her. Spike takes out a carton of cigs and as he taps the box he looks forward and sees Hamilton standing right in front of the stairwell's entrance at the other side of the roof.

He drops the box and Illyria looks at him then, following his gaze, looks at Hamilton as he slowly marches towards them.

Spike: (eyes fixed on Hamilton; quietly) "Hold it."

Illyria turns around and stands up on the ledge.

Hamilton: (pacing himself towards them) "Good evening."

Spike: "Came up for a smoke?" (bends over and grabs the box from the floor)

Hamilton: "More or less."

Spike: (sarcastically) "Why do I take it this is not gonna end pretty?"

Hamilton: (mockingly) "Chalk it up to your genius mind, Blondie Bear."

Spike: (calmly) "I don't want any problems, Hamilton. Just here for the view."

Hamilton: "I'm sure you are. I hear it's nicer when it's flying past you as you're chasing the floor with your chin, though." (smiles casually) "Of course that's just a rumor... I wouldn't know myself."

Spike: "I don't doubt it."

Spike stands up. He looks at Hamilton as he stops three feet away from him. They stare each other down, while Illyria remains still in her position. Then in the blink of an eye Spike runs his fist against Marcus' face. Hamilton remains unfazed by the powerful attack and grabs Spike by the throat. Illyria jumps at him but Hamilton sidesteps and grabs hold of her hair.

He pulls her head back and Illyria begins to shake violently from the intense pain being inflicted on her injured neck. Spike punches Marcus in the face repeatedly in a desperate attempt to get himself loose from his grip to no avail. Hamilton knocks Illyria's head against the concrete ledge, shattering it in the process. Illyria begins convulsing as blood comes out of her nose, mouth and cranium. Spike screams in pure rage and kicks him with all his strength between his legs.

Hamilton cringes from the force of the attack and launches Spike several yards from where he stood. Hamilton stares at him as he falls face-first against the pavement, then turns towards Illyria. He crouches beside her and grabs hold of her with both hands, lifting her up to her feet. He moves her towards the edge of the building and holds her from it.

Hamilton: "What's the matter, King? Lost your spine? Cause, honestly? You fight like a girl."

As the words fly out of his mouth Hamilton punches Illyria, turning her completely around and forcing her to hold on to the ledge. He steps back and kicks her, pushing her frail looking body through the concrete, thirty stories at an incredible speed. Illyria crashes down into the streets below, where a speeding Corolla skids and smashes against her.

Hamilton is taken a bit aback as he sees the pile-up that forms from the initial crash. Yet just as he turns around towards Spike, his black colored boots slam against his face. Marcus steps back just as Spike moves against him. He grabs Hamilton's jacket and reels him close to him when he feels a sharp pain in chest.

His eyes well up, his hands begin to shake and as he looks down on his shirt he sees Hamilton's fingers penetrating his chest. Blood splatters from his chest as Marcus continues to push his fingers through his sternum, cracking it slowly. Spike's body becomes numb. His mouth drips with his blood as he feels Marcus' hands lift him from his feet.

He feels his breath in his face as he holds him close. Hamilton scoffs at his adversary and throws him of the ledge. Spike's body falls down the mountain of glass and stone rolling through the air. He falls flat on top of a parked sedan just a few steps from the building's underground parking lot's entrance. Hamilton looks down and smiles in satisfaction, then turns around rearranging his suit when he sees Wes and Lindsey standing just a few meters away from him. His eyes blink as he sees the glint of Wes' gun clasped between his fingers. He looks at them and breathes deeply. It's going to be a long night...

-- Fin.